Christian's Reviews > Mexican Gothic
Mexican Gothic
by
by
4 1/2 stars
My expectations were quite high going into this, but holy shit.
This story completely consumed me. From the start, the writing style was so confident and immediately pulled me into a different time. I loved the main character and I'm so happy I got to experience this story through her eyes. But most of all, I loved the atmosphere. Oh my god. You could feel the chapters in such a visceral way, because the pacing was so tight and focused and the imagery made it seem like I was there, or watching a top tier arthouse horror film, though never too pretentious or not fun. This book was so much fun, while simultaneously containing so much subtlety and restraint. I am so impressed with the construction as a whole, and I wouldn't be surprised if the author had outlined the story arc to the gods before starting the actual writing process.
I loved the central horror element, the allegory it represented and all the implications strewn throughout the book, right up until the bittersweet ending. It was all so The Woman in Black meets Annihilation, and it was good fucking soup. Some scenes were seriously unsettling.
Ironically, though, the last third was probably my least favourite. As soon as I got some hard facts and answers, which were all satisfactory, I felt a little less drawn in and more removed from the happenings. Some of the horrors, particularly in the (dare I say slightly underwhelming?) climax didn't really get under my skin. I think I only really noticed because the previous two thirds had been so immaculate.
Regardless, this was a complete win and a masterclass in historical and atmospheric horror writing with an amazing main character. Would highly recommend.
My expectations were quite high going into this, but holy shit.
This story completely consumed me. From the start, the writing style was so confident and immediately pulled me into a different time. I loved the main character and I'm so happy I got to experience this story through her eyes. But most of all, I loved the atmosphere. Oh my god. You could feel the chapters in such a visceral way, because the pacing was so tight and focused and the imagery made it seem like I was there, or watching a top tier arthouse horror film, though never too pretentious or not fun. This book was so much fun, while simultaneously containing so much subtlety and restraint. I am so impressed with the construction as a whole, and I wouldn't be surprised if the author had outlined the story arc to the gods before starting the actual writing process.
I loved the central horror element, the allegory it represented and all the implications strewn throughout the book, right up until the bittersweet ending. It was all so The Woman in Black meets Annihilation, and it was good fucking soup. Some scenes were seriously unsettling.
Ironically, though, the last third was probably my least favourite. As soon as I got some hard facts and answers, which were all satisfactory, I felt a little less drawn in and more removed from the happenings. Some of the horrors, particularly in the (dare I say slightly underwhelming?) climax didn't really get under my skin. I think I only really noticed because the previous two thirds had been so immaculate.
Regardless, this was a complete win and a masterclass in historical and atmospheric horror writing with an amazing main character. Would highly recommend.
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Reading Progress
October 13, 2023
–
Started Reading
October 13, 2023
– Shelved
October 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
released-2020
October 13, 2023
–
0.33%
"Been meaning to read this for so long, and the time is finally here! Really eager to get into it, since it's my first book by the author as well. The art on the first page of this paperback edition is stunning!"
page
1
October 14, 2023
–
33.22%
"I am absolutely entranced by this so far. The writing, the strength of the pacing, the atmosphere... tens across the board."
page
100
October 16, 2023
–
Finished Reading